Rotary engine.



No. 897,260. PATENTED AUG. 25, 1908. 0. H. LUTHER, JE-

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1907. I

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IN'VIIVTDJ-T-Ef WITNESSES.

PATENTBD. AUG. 25, 1908.

C. H. LUTHER, J n. ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION nLizn JULY 16, 1907.

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UNITED sTA Es PATENT oEEIoE.

CHARLES H. LUTHER, JR., OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

. ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 25, 1908.

Application filed July 16, 1907. Serial No. 384,073.

provement in rotary engines and more par-- ticularly 'to an improvement in rotary explosive engines.

In rotary explosive or gas engines as heretofore constructed, the functions of suction and compression are performed by auxiliary mechanism, such as a pum placed intermediate the source of gas supp y and the engine and operated by the engine or an auxiliary power.

The object of my invention is to construct a rotary explosive engine with internal component parts adapted to perform the functions of suction, compression, explosion and exhaust, all within the casing of the engine, thereby constructing a rotary explosive engine complete in itself and eliminating all auxiliary mechanism.

A further object of my invention is to simplify the construction of a rotary explosive engine, whereby the number of parts are reduced, and in proportion to the horse power developed are extremely light in construction, making the engine particularly adapted for use in dirigible balloons, automobiles or power boats.

Another object of my invention is to so construct a rotary explosive engine that a multiple of the engines may be used on one driving shaft.

My invention consists in the peculiar and novel construction of a rotary explosive engine having internal component parts adapted to perform the functions of suction, compression, explosion and exhaust, all within the engine, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

Figure 1 is a vertical view looking at the pulley side of my improved rotary explosive engine. Fig. 2 is a vertical view looking at the inlet or suction port side of the engine. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line X X of Fig. 2, showing the cam for the sliding abutments in full lines, the cam for the reciprocating pistons in dotted lines and the position the operative parts would'assume at the point of suction, compression,

explosion and exhaust. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line Y Y of Fig. 1, showing 'the rotary piston secured to the driving shaft and one of the reciprocating pistons in the rotary piston operatively connected with the cam on the interior of the casing. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line Z Z of Fig. 3 through the casing, sliding abutment, and cam for operating the abutment, and Fig. 6 is a detail face view of that part of the sparking controlling mechanism secured to the driving shaft.

In the drawings, a indicates the casing, 11 the driving shaft, 0 the driv ing pulley, d." the rotary piston, e e c the reciprocating pistons, f the cam for the reciprocating pistons, g g g the sliding abutments, h the cam for the sliding abutments, i the suction port,

k the combined compression and explosion chamber, Z the exhaust chamber, m the exhaust port, 0 the oil inlet plug, 1) the oil outlet lug, r the spark plug, sthe spark control ing mechanism, and ,t a battery con nected by the wires t and t to the spark plug and spark controlling mechanism of my improved rotary explosive engine.

he circular casing a is constructed in two parts shaped to conform to and inclose the circular rotary piston d. The part a, of the casingis supported on the base a. and the part a secured to the part a on a line coinciding with the adjacent edge of the rotary piston d by the bolts at a, as shown in Fig. 4. Each of the parts a and a have the central bearings a a for the driving shaft 1). The suction port 9 the explosion chamber 7c and the exhaust port m are located at e ual distances apart on the circumference o the engine and formed integral with the part a. of

the casing. The exhaust chamber Z which connects with the exhaust port 'm is a continuation of the explosion chamber 7c both being formed by extending the circumference of the casing outward between the explosion chamber 7c and the exhaust port m the width 9 and to a depth of the sliding abutments coinciding to the outward movement of the sliding abutments, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5'. The compression and explosion chamber 70 is preferably located at the top of the engine and with the exhaust chamber Z is air cooled by the radial flanges d a, formed integral withthe casing, or by a water jacket if desired.. A boss a having the screw-threaded hole 0. extending into the combined compression and explosion chamber 70 is formed on the top of the casin for the spark plug 1', asshown in Fig. 3. The cam for the reci rocating pistons e e is forme on the insi e of the part a of the casing, or secured thereto, and consists of two continuous parallel ribs f f forming a continuous groove j adapted to receive the rolls on the stems of the pistons e e and shaped to move the istons inward at f at the point of suction, t en outward at f 4 adjacent the piston chambers for the sliding abutments, 'g g g. The pistons e 6 each have the packing rings 0 e and the inwardly-exthe at the point of compression and explosion, then inward at f and outward at f to the point of exhaust, as shown in dotted lines in ig. 3. The cam h for the sliding abutments g g is formed on the inside of the part a of the casing or secured thereto and consists of two continuous parallel ribs 71/ h forming a continuous groove 72? adapted to receive the rolls on the sliding abutments g gg and shaped to move the abutments outward at it into the explosion chamber 7c 'atthe point of explosion and then inward'at h'f'at the point of exhaust, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3.

The shaft 6 is rotatably supported in the bearings a a and has the driving pulley c' secured to the outer end of the shaft, as shown in Fig. 4. The rotary piston dis in the form of a balance wheel having the thick rectangu- 'lar rim (1 connected 'by the central web of to the hub d which is securedto the shaft 1) by a spline or other means. The sides and eripheral face of the rim (1 are shaped to iave a sliding fit in the interior of the casing. Piston chambers d d are formed in the rim cl.

-These piston chambers extend radially through the rim at equal distances apart for the pistons e e, as shown in Fig. 3. Radial slots (1 d are formed in the web (1 on a line with the center of the piston chambers, and rectangular shape holes d d d are formed in the rim tending rigid stem e on the inner end of which is rotatably secured the roll a. The stem 6 extends through the slot (1 in the web of the rotary piston in a osition to bring the roll into the groove fin t e cam f. The sides of the slot d form'a guide for the stem of then pistonand prevent the same from turning in iston chamber. c

' T e sliding abutments g g are each constructed to have a sliding fit in a hole (1 in the rim d.. These abutments extend through the rim and have on their inner ends a rollg in a position to enter the groove k in the cam h, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The pins for rotatably securing the rolls to the inner ends of the abutments and piston stems may each be in the form of an eccentric secured by a set.-

bolt in the adjusted position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, thereby (providing means for ad ustingthe istons an abutments forwear.

The spark p ug rhas theusual construction consisting of an insulated central core in an outer shell adapted to screw into the screw threaded hole a in the boss a and coinciding sparkin oints on the inner ends of the core and she l, as shown in Fig. 3. The spark controlling mechanism 8 consists of a spider s havin the central hubs secured to t e shaft 1) an the three arms s s s to the ends of which are secured the. L-shaped contact springs s s 8 A ring1 8 having the handles and the arm 8" on t e end of which is an L-shaped contact springls in a position to engage 1n succession wit contact springs on the spider, is rotata secured on the bearing a adjacent the s ider s, as shown in Fig. 4. By moving the andle s the sparking is advanced or retarded, as desired, thus varying the speed of the en- In the operation of my improved rotary engine, the inlet port is connected to a carbureter or a source of gas sup ly and the outthe L-shappd let port m may be connecte to a muffler if desired. The rotary piston d revolves in the direction of the arrow, as shown in Fig. 3. The function of suction is performed by a piston e being drawn inwar by the cam j as it arrives opposite the inlet port 71. The charge of gas t in the piston chamber d toward the compression chamber is. Just before the point of compression a sliding abutment g is moved outward by the cam it into the compression and explosion chamber is. An outward movement of the piston e by'the cam f now compresses the charge of gas in the compression chamber, and'the charge of gas isexploded by a spark from'the battery t, con.- -trolled by the mechanism 8 jum ing across the points on the spark plug 7. he force of the explosion acting on the abutment g'and on the end of the piston e forces the rotary piston (1 around in the direction of the arrow to the point of exhaust, when the piston and abutment is drawn inward by their respective cams. The inward movement of the piston e toward the point of exhaust (conus drawn in is carried around trolled by the cam f at j) tends to revolve the rotary piston d and .the outward movement of the piston e at the point of'exhaust assists in forcing the burned gases out through the exhaust port m. These operations are repeated simultaneously three times in one revolution of the engine. Any products of combustion left in the exhaust chamber l are forced out of'the exhaust port m by the next following abutment, thus keeping the compression and explosion chamber is free of the products ofcombustion.

I 'do'not wish to confine myself to the jump spark system shown for exploding the gas or to the mechanism for controlling the same, as any of the usual means may be used for this pur ose, without materiallyafiecting the spirit 0 my invention.

'Havmg thus described. my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:-

, 1. In a rotary explosive engine, a rotary piston, a reciprocating piston in the rotary piston and a fixed camoperatively connected with the reciprocatin p1ston.

2. In a rotary explosive engine, a rotary piston, a reci rocatmg piston in the rotary piston and a ed cam in the engine casing operatively connected with the reciprocating piston. I

3. In a rotary explosiveengine, a rotary iston, a plurality of reciprocating pistons 1n the rotary piston, stems on the recipro- I the rotary lpiston, a plurality of sh nected to the same.

7. In a rotary explosive engine, a casing,

eating pistons, and a fixed cam in the engine casing, operatively connected with the stems of the reciprocating pistons. I

4. In a rotary explosive engine, a rotary piston, a reciprocatmg piston in the rotary piston, a sliding abutment in the rotary piston, means for operating the reciprocatingpiston and means for operating the sliding abutment.

5. In a rotary ex losive engine, a rotary piston, a plurality o reciprocating istons in riing abutments in t e rotary piston, means for operating the reci rocatmg pistons and means for operating t e sliding abutments.

6. In a rotary ex losive engine; a rotary piston, a plurality o reciprocating istons in the rotary piston, a plurality of sliding abutments in t e rotary piston adjacent the reciprocating pistons, means for o erating the reciprocating pistons and the siding abutments consisting of cams operatively cona shaft rotatably supported in hearings in the casing, a rotary p1ston in the casing secured to the shaft, a plurality of reci r'ocating istons in the rotary piston, a p urality of s iding abutments in the rotary piston,

cams in the casing, and means for operatively connecting the reciprocating pistons and the ing abutments in the rim of the rotary iston 4 sliding abutments with the cams.

8. In a rotary explosive engine, a rotary piston having an annular-rim, a plurality of piston chambers in the rim, a plurality of reciprocating pistons in the piston chambers, a plurality of sliding abutments in the rim adjacent the pistons, and means for operating the reciprocating pistons and the slid mg abutments.

9. In a rotary explosive engine, a casing, a suction port, a combined compression an explosion chamber and an exhaust port in the casing, a shaft rotatably supported in hearings in the casing, a rotary piston in the casing secured to the shaft, a plurality of reciprocating pistons in the rotary piston, a plurality of sliding abutmentsin the-rotary piston adjacent the reci rocating pistons,

'rocatingpiston and the sliding abutments the casing, means for operatively connecting the reciprocating piston and the sliding abutments with their respective cams, a spark plug operatively connected with the comined compression and explosion chamber, and means for operatively connecting 'the' spark plug with a battery.

11'. In a rotary explosive engine, a casing, a suction port, explosion chamber and exhaust port in the casing, a shaft rotatably supported in hearings in the casing, a rotary piston secured to the shaft and having an annular rim, a pluralit of piston chambers in the annular rim, a p urality of reciprocatin pistons in the piston chambers, a plurality of sliding abutments in the rim adjacent the pistons, cams on the interior of the casing, means for operatively connecting the reciprocating pistons and the sliding abutments with their respective cams, means for igniting the' gas in the explosion chamber and means for cooling the engine.

12. In a rotary explosivesngine, a casing, a suction port, explosion chamber and exhaust port in the casing, a shaft rotatably supported in bearings in the casing, a rotary piston having an annular rim an a central ub secured to the shaft, a plurality of iston chambers in the annular rim, a plura of reciprocating pistons in the piston chambers, stems on the reciprocating pistons, rolls on the ends of the stem, a cam on the interior of thecasing operatively connected with therolls on the piston stems, a plurality of slidadjacent the reciprocating pistons,'ro ls on the abutments, a cam on the interior of the casing operatively connected with the rolls on the abutments, means for i niting the gas in the explosion chamber, an means for coolin the engine.

13. n a rotary explosive engine, a casing, a suction port, exhaust port and a combined compression and explosion chamber merging into the exhaust port, in the casing, a shaft rotatably supported in bearings in the casing, a rotary iston having an annular rim and a central ub secured to the shaft, a plurality of piston chambers in the annular 12 rim; a plurality of reciprocating pistons in the piston cf ambers, stems on the reciprocating pistons, rolls on the end of the stems, a cam on the interior of the casing operatively con nected with the rolls on the piston stems, a

' pression and explosion c amber mergl ginto the exhaust chamber leading to the ex aust plurality of sliding abutments in the rim of the rotary iston adjacent the reciprocating istons, rol s on the abutments, a cam on the interior of the casin operatively connected with the rolls on the abutments, a spark plug in the explosion chamber, s ark controlling mechanism adapted to advance or retard the spark, means for operatively connecting the spark plug and the spark controlling mechanism to a source of electric energy, and means for cooling the engine, as described.

14. In a rotary explosive engine, a casing, a suction port, exhaust ort, combined cornport in the casing, cams on the interior of the casing, a shaft rotatably supported in bearings in the casing, a rotary piston having an annular rim, a connecting web in which are radial slots and a central hub secured to the shaft, a plurality of piston chambers in the annular rim on a line with the radial slots,a plurality of reciprocating pistons in the piston chambers, rigid stems on the reciprocating pistons adapted to extend through the radial slots in t e web of the rotary piston, rolls on the ends of the stems in a position to engage with a cam on the interior of the casing, a plurality of sliding abutments in the rim of the rotary piston adjacent the recip' rocating pistons, rolls on the abutments in a position to engage with a cam on the interior of the casing, means for igniting the gas in the explosion chamber, and means for cooling the engine, as described.

, 15. In a rotary explosive engine, the combination of a casing a, a driving shaft 6 rotatably supported in bearings in the casing, a pulley c on the shaft, a rotary piston (1 secured to the driving shaft, reciprocating pistons e e e in the rotary piston a cam f operatively connected with the reciprocating pistons e e, sliding abutments g g g in the rotary iston, a cam h operatively connected to the siding abutments, a suction port i, a combined compression and explosion chamher Is merging 1nto an exhaust chamber Z, an exhaust port m, an oil inlet plu 0, an oil outlet lug p, a spark plug 1', am? a spark controlling mechanism 8, all constructed as shown .and for the purpose as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES H. LUTHER, JR.

Witnesses:

J. A. MILLER, ADA E. HAGERTY. 

